PROPOSAL 2: RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
KPMG LLP, New York, New York, has been appointed by the Board to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023. KPMG LLP acted as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2022. The Company knows of no direct financial or material indirect financial interest of KPMG LLP in the Company. A representative of KPMG LLP will be available to answer questions during the Annual Meeting and will have an opportunity to make a statement if he or she desires to do so.
Although action by the shareholders on this matter is not required, the Audit Committee and the Board believes it is appropriate to seek shareholder ratification of this selection in light of the role played by the independent registered public accounting firm in reporting on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. If a quorum is present at the Annual Meeting and the appointment of KPMG LLP as independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023 is not ratified by the shareholders, the adverse vote will be considered by the Audit Committee in determining whether to appoint KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the succeeding fiscal year.
Change in Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
On June 22, 2021, upon recommendation of the Audit Committee, the Board dismissed PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP had served as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for each of the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018.
The reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP on the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, and they were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles. During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 and the subsequent period preceding June 22, 2021, there were (i) no disagreements with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, would have caused it to make reference to the subject matter of such disagreements in connection with its reports, (ii) nor were there any “reportable events”, as such term is described in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Exchange Act.
On June 22, 2021, upon the recommendation of the Audit Committee, the Board approved the engagement of KPMG LLP to serve as the Company’s independent registered accounting firm to audit the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021.
During the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 and through June 22, 2021, neither the Company nor any person on its behalf has consulted with KPMG LLP with respect to either (i) the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company’s consolidated financial statements or (ii) any matter that was either the subject of a “disagreement” or a “reportable event” as such terms are described in Items 304(a)(1)(iv) or 304(a)(1)(v), respectively, of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Exchange Act.
Although action by the shareholders on this matter is not required, the Audit Committee and the Board believes it is appropriate to seek shareholder ratification of this selection in light of the role played by the independent registered public accounting firm in reporting on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. If a quorum is present at the Annual Meeting and the appointment of KPMG LLP as independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023 is not ratified by the shareholders, the adverse vote will be considered by the Audit Committee in determining whether to appoint KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the succeeding fiscal year.